Sleep disorders at West

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Sleep disorders treatment

A sleep disorder can be a serious problem, and according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, more than 100 million Americans of all ages fail to get a good night's sleep.

Almost everybody snores at some point in their lives, but if it habitually interferes with sleep, it's considered a disorder. Insomnia, an inability to fall asleep, may also be considered a disorder. Along with these, some of the most common sleep disorders are:

Circadian rhythm disorders – unable to sleep and wake at normal times required for work and school; most common in shift workers and frequent travelers

Narcolepsy – the brain is unable to regulate sleep-wake cycles, leading to excessive sleepiness and daytime sleep attacks

Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) – characterized by a tickling or twitching sensation that is only relieved by moving the legs

Sleep apnea – occurs when a person’s breathing is interrupted during sleep, sometimes hundreds of times during the night; affects people of all ages, both genders and every body type, but is most common in men over the age of 40

Sleep Disorder Center at HCA Houston West

Sleep studies are conducted seven nights a week from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. During testing, patients receive assessments using advanced technology while relaxing in a comfortable, at-home setting.

Depending on your needs, we offer polysomnography, polysomnography with CPAP/BIPAP, a multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) and a maintenance of wakefulness test (MWT). These tests are designed to monitor:

Brain waves

Eye movement

Muscle tone

Heart rate and rhythm

Breathing flow and effort

Leg movement

Oxygen saturation

Carbon dioxide levels

Sleep state and quality

After the sleep technicians record the patient's sleep with the state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment, a registered sleep technologist scores the patient's sleep study and our board-certified sleep medicine physicians interpret each study.

Talk to your doctor or call The Sleep Disorder Center at West Houston at (281) 584-7378 to schedule an appointment with a sleep specialist.

Am I a candidate?

If you are an adult and more than one of these applies to you, you may benefit from a sleep study. Indications that you are a candidate for a sleep study include:

I am tired all the time.

I don't feel refreshed, even after sleeping all night.

I have been told that I snore.

I’m sleeping during the day.

I toss and turn a lot in my sleep.

I stop breathing in my sleep.

I have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.

I am forgetful or have trouble concentrating.

I often take sleeping pills to fall asleep.

I have been told that I kick or hit my bed partner during sleep.

I have a creepy, crawling feeling in my legs when I lie down or try to relax.

The Sleep Disorder Center at HCA Houston West also treats children aged seven and older. Studies show that two out of every three children under the age of 10 have experienced a sleep disorder and may benefit from a sleep study, which include:

Breathing problems or loud breathing

Snoring

Unusual waking at night

Difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep

Resistance to sleep

Parasomnias: night terrors, teeth grinding and sleepwalking

What to expect

Upon checking into the sleep lab, you will complete forms detailing the history of your sleep patterns. The next step entails preparation for the sleep study, a process that takes anywhere from a few minutes-to-a couple of hours, depending on your specific needs. This process may include:

Attaching monitors to your head. Cleaning your scalp to remove all oils before attaching electrodes on your forehead or scalp

A low-light camera will observe the way you sleep. Depending on the doctor’s instructions, you will be allowed to sleep until you naturally wake up or you will be woken up at a predetermined time.

Based on instructions from the sleep-medicine doctor, you will be observed for the duration of your study. All of the data is then analyzed and a report is compiled. Once complete – usually three-to-five business days – the report will be sent to your referring physician.

Sleep disorders at HCA Houston Healthcare

Sleep disorders refer to a change or disturbance in a patient’s normal sleep pattern. Sleep disorders may affect the amount of sleep and quality of sleep someone receives. Sleep timing may also be of concern in the case of disorders like narcolepsy. Sleep disorders can be linked to both medical and emotional causes.

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